But of His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became unto us

Wisdom from God and Righteousness and Sanctification and

Redemption, that just as it is written,Let him who

boast, boast in the Lord.1Cor.1:30-31.

EVERYTHING PERTAINING TO LIFE AND GODLINESS Romans, 1: 1-7, "Paul a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, who was declared with power to be the Son of God by the Resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of the faith among all the Gentiles for His names sake, among who you are also the called of Jesus Christ to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called saints; Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Gal. 4:4-7. "But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father! Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God."

God the Father, (the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), with Jesus Christ His First Born Son, (who took upon Himself the Form of a servant), in concert with the Holy Spirit, (the giver of life), all working in harmony with one another, worked in concert to provide complete redemption and salvation to the race of mankind, who at the time were at enmity with Him. All of which is in keeping with the promises, God had made with mankind over the centuries. All are the summation of the covenant promise God had made with Abraham. Gal. 3:13-14, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree, in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentile, so that we might receive THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT THROUGH FAITH."

This is the heart of the Gospel, the Good News, from God to man. God has revealed it over the centuries, and He has caused it to be expounded and compiled as a record in a volume from Genesis to Revelation. God who is Spirit Being, expressed Himself in the physical and material creation of the universe, including the earth and all it contains, including man as we know him. The expression of all that He is, made it a living planet. He spoke His life into the creation, which gave it light, in order that life might be propagated. This action of His was an expression of what in essence He is, 'LOVE'. In this revelation, He gives us an awareness of the meaning and reason for the care and concern He has shown toward the earth and its inhabitants. Man is the special manifestation of His likeness, in that he was created in His image. Rom. 5:14b,

"Adam; who is a type of Him who was to come."

A spirit of evil that originated in the heart of the highest of the heavenly hosts, and having been cast out of his heavenly estate, this spirit of evil was interjected into the earth, through man, Adam. The influence of this evil spirit caused the creation of earth and all upon it, to become less than it had been created to be. This spirit of enmity and animosity toward God the Creator prevailed and controlled the life of everything on the planet, except in those instances where certain men through God the Holy Spirit,striving with them,allowed themselves to be awakened to the reality of the voice of God, and consequently to the existence of God. Being awakened to God's existence, they recognized Him for who He is, and believed in Him and His word when it came to them. For the rest, the spirit of evil that motivated them, caused them to desecrate themselves and their fellowman, and the creation of which they were a part. Each succeeding generation grew worse than the preceding one. God at intervals, sometimes through very drastic means, repeatedly spoke and acted toward His creation, until finally He spoke and acted in the very presence of spiritually blinded mankind, through His Son, in order to bring about His purpose for His creation.

Embodied in the record are the accounts of each of His encouneters with His creatio and mankind in particular. Incorporate in these writings are the Promises which are the foundation for the process He will follow through the centuries, to finally bring about His work of correcting the condition, Mankind under the domination of the evil nature,has brought upon this world. God always revealed to mankind that the way this correction would be brought about, was that everything tainted by this evil nature would be brought down to death and the grave, and then resurrected to New Life. Life to be lived eternally, either in union with God, or separated from God in the realm of darkness. The source of the transition that everything must take, is repeatedly spoken out in detail, through each of the events recorded, from bondage to freedom, from judgment to justification, from esteangment to reconciliation, and from death to life. Eternal Life, imparted to mankind, has been God's objective from the beginning.

God continually revealed that because of His great love, He has been in the process of awakening mankind to their need and revealing the need to be, the restoration of Spiritual, Light and Life. The fact that He finally completed His work in bringing this about, and it is now available to any and all who will receive it by faith, is the Good New of the Gospel. It is a finished, completed work, nothing held back, nothing lacking, no strings attached, an out-right Gift from God to mankind, all embodied in one offering, for all men, for all time, for all transgressions, received by faith, an outright gift from God to mankind. Any and all may have this communion relationship, this personal relationship, a life in corporate union with the living Lord of Life, God the Creator in the Person of His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ brought Light and Life, and immortality to light through His death, burial, and resurrection, and ascension into heaven and the return of His Holy Spirit to impute righteousness, and to impart life to all who would choose to receive it.

The question posed is; do you and I posses this gift of Eternal Life, and are we living it by faith, or are we still possesed by the natural, physical, material, and are we just trying in our own strenth to live a life for God? If so you and are still missing the mark. For our acceptance in never in ouselves and our accomplishments for Him, but in His accomplishments for us.

Here-in is the illumination of it all, in that all mankind was under the indictment of death as a result of sin.Jesus, came and bore the judgment of it in our behalf. And since mankind under the indictment of death was destined to return to the earth from whence he came, He was buried, and in so doing the removal of the taint of uncleanness was removed from man. For a New Man, a New Creation arose from the grave. Since sin and death had reigned as two despotic monarchs over mankind, their domination had to be broken, and this He accomplished, by the resurrection from the grave. Since mankind in himself could not supply life to himself or to his fellowmen, Jesus in concert with the Father, sent the Holy Spirit, to bestow life, Eternal Life to all believers. Since man had failed to fulfill his first appointed purpose, which was to Glorify God, in whose likeness he had been created, it is stated, 1Cor. 15: 21, "For since by a man came death, by A Man, came the resurrection from the dead.". Mankind now in the person of Jesus Christ, can participate in sharing the Glory that Jesus Christ brought to the Father, through His complete obedience to God's will, in performing the work necessary to restore mankind to the purpose for which he had been created in the beginning. And so the light of Life has shined in this Spiritually darkened world for almost two-thousand years; and the shame is, only a few of each generation allow themselves to be illumined by it, and the rest choose to remain in darkness., and their hearts are hardened because of it.

John 7:37-39, "Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If any man is thirsty, let him come unto Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said,' from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believe in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."

1Tim. 6:15b-16, "He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor(glory), and eternal dominion! Amen."

2Tim. 1:7-12, "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me his prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the Gospel according to the power of God; who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and am convinced the He is able to guard that which I have entrusted to Him until that day."

Through one act of disobedience the race of mankind was plunged into a circumstance they couldn't extricate themselves from without God's help. Through one act of obedience, Jesus Christ, God in Jesus Christ, brought Righteousness and Light and Life to all who accept Him. He Who is the Gift. Rom. 5:17-21, "For by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace, THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL REIGN IN LIFE, THROUGH THE ONE, JESUS CHRIST. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of One, the many will be made righteous. And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to (or resulting), in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Herein lies the Good News that each of His witnesses were commissioned to take to the world of lost men and women. Let us look at the way they were directed by His Life-giving Spirit, to address the ones He raised up in response to their message of Hope.

In order to bring some stability to our own hearts and minds, and to enter with believers from before the dark ages, and also with true believers of our present day, into the fullness of His Life, and the completeness of the transition from darkness and death into the realm of Light and Life in Jesus Christ, let us consider the way in which, Paul, Peter and John presented the truth of Life to the body of believers of their day.

Paul made a declaration that everything contained in the Gospel of God, concerning His Son is predicated on the fact that a faithful, loving, caring, promise keeping God, who cannot lie, has kept and fulfilled His promises. Scholars tell us that there are over, one-hundred and fourteen directly related promises to the coming of the Messiah and the work He would accomplish in our behalf, so that everything necessary might be made right for a loving, living relationship, with the God, who is the First and the Last, the beginning and the end of everything, the One, Who was, and Is, and Who is to come, the Lord Jesus Christ.

All that the angel of darkness, who had wreaked such havoc, through sin and death, and had caused everything to go wrong, HAD NOW , been conquered and made right, Through the Son , Who had brought into being, the New Realm of Light and Life.

Several years had passed since that eventful day when God had revealed His righteousness, and displayed it publicly by placing His Son on the cross. He had manifested His glory and power over sin, and death and the grave through the Word of the Cross and through the resurrection from the grave, His ascension, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, was to make His work a living reality to the body of believers in Jerusalem. After a few years, Paul's conversion is brought about by the Lord, and He is commissioned to be the Special Apostle to the Gentiles. As soon as the Lord gets His, Heart and His Head synchronized, so that he no longer thought of himself, as Saul of Tarsus, but ever after he saw himself, dead, buried, resurrected, and abiding in Christ, in the Heavenlies, with a whole new identification. He had a New Name, because he was a New Creation in Christ. He was motivated by a new mind, the mind of Christ. 1Cor. 2: 12-13, and 16b, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words." ver.16b, "We have the mind of Christ."

In the intervening years, Paul makes several treks throughout the region covering great distances, visiting many cities, as far from Jerusalem as Athens, Greece, fulfilling his office of steward-ship of the Gospel. Each place he visited, God raised up bodies of believers, as witness to the validity of Paul's calling.

Corinth, in Greece was one such city. It is believed, according to the record left us in the book of Acts, that sometime before his third visit there, word comes to him of a body of believers in the Capital city of the Roman Empire, who are assembling and worshipping in Jesus Name. This group of a mix of people from all over the Roman Empire, were made up of Jew's of the Diaspora, as well as Gentiles, perhaps of various descent; but uniting in one body. Word has reached him of this, and at the same time, because of the diversity of back-grounds; the age old malady was rearing its ugly head. ( Ethnicity;-- religious, cultural, political, philosophical, national, intellectual) was causing problems, just like it is today in the midsts of our society, religious or social. The, 'Whole Truth of the Gospel", as well as the unity of the body was threatened, and placed in jeopardy. A clear concise, complete, exposition of the Good New from God needed to be put before them. God in His Wisdom has seemed to use this circumstance, to cause Paul to compile such a Treatise, as a guiding light for the church for all time. This is what we have in the Book or Letter to this Roman Body of believers.

Paul assumes the task of writing this letter as a part of his commission as an Apostle. He expounds the truth of the Gospel throughout this letter in a more concise and complete manner than in all the other writing of the whole, New Testament. For in this letter we are taken back in time by referencing the First Testament as the place where all the mystery is veiled to eyes, by the Law, and which is unveiled in the writings of Paul and the rest of the Apostles. Everything up until now, that has kept man estranged from God and at a distance, has all been taken out of the way by nailing it to the Cross. And as death ensued, Jesus was taken down from the Cross, and hidden from God's sight in the heart of the earth, the grave; in complete fulfillment of the symbolic hiding, of Israel's sins under the blood, which was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat, obscuring God's sight from His broken Law. 2Cor. 5:21, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him".

The real, removal of all, was accomplished at Calvary, of which all the rest up until that time spoke and pointed. They were all, sign's, along the way, just as we follow sign's from one destination to another, so mankind was directed. The entire work of Salvation is a gift of God. Believers are all placed (Baptized) into the body of Christ, and it is an eternal decree, guaranteeing our eternal position as a member of the body of Christ, The temple, God's present dwelling place.

The Apostle Paul explains all the ramifications of God's action, in faithfully bringing about His Gift of Salvation to the race of mankind. From the first natural man, Adam, until the revelation of God's righteousness revealed to the world of men, in sending His Son, and reconciling the world unto Himself. This is the most that He can do. He won't force anyone to accept Him, but neither will He reject anyone from accepting Him and being transferred from the realm of darkness into the Kingdom of His Son, the Kingdom of Life and Light.

After expounding the Good News with all it's ramifications,he,as only he could do,tells us how the True Believer, answers all the questions that he more than likely had been confronted with many times. Here's how the believer, the knowledgeable believer should respond, as he did. Rom 8:28-39, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies: Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, 'For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Paul's positive note of assurance throughout all of his writings is this. For all true believers, potentially, everything that is included in the accomplishment of Jesus,now,the possibility of it becoming yours and mine is sure; on the basis of our faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit, in His part of God's purpose, makes it all a reality, an experiential knowledge, an actuality in life, for the one who accepts his position in Christ. The Apostle John affirms this.1John 4:16b-17, "God is Love and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him. By this love is perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because, as He is so also are we in this world."

All is predicated on the premise,that, Grace Reigns, through Righteousness in Jesus Christ, unto justification of life, (full and complete acquittal), and raised to Newness of Life.

The old nature hasn't been removed, however; it no longer remains as the source of the driving power in life, for the true believer. The power of the old nature residing in the flesh, has been broken, and a New Dynamic has been installed; a new authority to live a new life to the glory of God has been given. The authority to live the life is invested in Jesus Christ, and it is He, who is sharing His Life with the believer. On the authority invested in the Name of Jesus, the believer is set free from the Law of sin and death, and now lives within the realm or sphere of the new established union,(fellowship), with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Scholars tell us that in the rule of grammar, when bringing a word over from one language to another, if the word in the original language is neuter, and the language into which the word is being translated, requires a tense or a sex, then the translator is at liberty to so translate the word. The translators of the Bible didn't always do this however, and sometimes when the inference is there, they still maintained the neuter. Thus we have the first few verses of the first epistle of John. The translations read, That, and Which, and What, all of which denote inanimate objects or neuter gender. And since the Word referred to the Person of Jesus, Proper word usage, to me, would have been, He,-Who, or just He, or even Who, and so I will so quote it here. Another distinction at this juncture is the word, "Fellowship", most generally it refers to just the social gathering of a group of people, they can be either religious, political, organizational, and Etc. As used here to translate the word from the Greek of the Apostle John, the word has all of these meanings, in both the Spiritual sense and the natural. As follows; A sharer, Partner-ship, Joint Participation, Social or Spiritual Intercourse, Communication, communion.

1John 1:1-4, "He, Who was from the beginning, Who we have heard, He,Who we have seen with our eyes, Who we have beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life--and the Life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, Who was with the Father and was manifested to us,-He Who we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship,(union, joint participation), is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write, so that our joy may be made complete."

Thus it can be seen how the Corporate Union, of being one with God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, are seen and thought of and practiced, by Faith, in the consciousness of the early Church Fathers. Those who make up the Foundation of the Church with Jesus Christ as the Chief Corner-stone; with all we to follow to make up the building, the Temple, which is being fitted together of multitudes of diversified Ethnic, People, now redeemed and made a part of God's house-hold. Set apart ones,With the distinction now as, New Creations in Christ.

All that constitutes, Eternal Life, or Salvation, is an accomplished work of God in Jesus Christ and are the Facts, the foundation upon which the whole structure is built. It is Solid, and not, Sinking Sand. And the offer is freely given to all, to, By Faith, allow one's-self to become a part of It. The true Believers, abiding Place is now built upon the Solid Rock, the chief Corner Stone, Christ Jesus.

Anyone upon becoming a believer in the finished work of redemption and reconciliation, now is in the chosen out ones, and set apart,(sanctified),holy unto the Lord. Therefore Paul exhorts all to live the life you now share with the Lord Jesus Christ, (in joint union, joint participation,) in a manner that shows, that what,(Who) you profess, is He, who now posses you. For upon accepting His purchasing us out of slavery or bondage, we are no longer our own,("We have been bought with a price," "His Life's Blood)" but we now are His, to direct according to the will of God. So that all will be to His Glory. Eph. 4:1b, "Walk in a manner worthy of your calling with which you have been called." Eph. 4:21b-24, "Just as the Truth is in Jesus, that in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, AND THAT YOU PUT ON THE NEW SELF, WHICH(WHO) IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD HAD BEEN CREATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS OF THE TRUTH."

The process Paul and John have been following is expounded most distinctly in Romans, chapter 5:- 8-6:23. Let me sum it up, but study it till you digest it, for it is the believers way of deliverance from bondage and turmoil into the freedom of light and life. The grace of God that has overflowed and become more than adequate, and is the answer to all of unbelieving mankind's conjectures, Paul explains very thoroughly in chap. 6: "But in that Jesus died, and all believers were placed into His death, no longer does the old nature of sin and death reign as monarchs. But being in Christ when He died, (Baptized into His death) in that He arose from the dead, the believer being hidden in Him, arose from the dead in Him, in His resurrection. And in that you arose from the dead in Him, it is resurrection unto Newness of Life. This justification unto Life, is the New Realm in which the believer lives his or her life. It is a sanctified, (set apart, life from the old one which one lived prior to believing). He follows this process in detail until the believer, you and me have developed this new way of thinking (the renewal of the spirit of the mind) about your relationship to the old way, and how you now see yourself in a whole new light, or relationship with your Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ. He then exhorts you, me, to think, (reckon) to add it all up as God through Paul has laid it out before us. Ver. 11, "Even so consider, (reckon), yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

Nothing has been withheld from you to keep you from living a life being called, or, of God calling you, His son's and daughters; the family of God. Here-in, is the Body in which He now dwells.

The definite assurance of their convictions is shown in the faithfulness of their experiencing Jesus as their provider and sustainer in every area of there relationship with Him. What you see is the positive approach to living as one of God's redeemed. Paul's faith shows, when he asks if it seems reasonable to think that, if God would go to such great lengths as the offering up of His Son, as a redemptive sacrifice, would He stop short of completing the transaction? And having offered Him in His entirety, would He then with-hold any part of Him from you. Again the response is an emphatic; Preposterous ! Don't even let such a thought enter into your consciousness. From this enlightenment the true believer learns to stop crying out to God for more. He or She, now recognize, their fullness now comes from accepting all that is theirs in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ came and lived and died and rose again so that mankind might be purchased out of the slave market of bondage to all the ungodly, unacceptable motivation of the natural, which reveal him to be just what God declares him to be; ( less than the person he was created to be). In his natural state, mankind just doesn't measure up, while in this condition, motivated by all his selfish self-centered inclination, to gratify ones-self. He misses the mark!
If you are not benefiting as a beneficiary in joint Heir-ship with Jesus, maybe, just maybe, you haven't accepted your full inheritance in Christ Jesus.

Paul soon turns his attention to his countrymen, the Israelites, with what I believe to be the same thought in mind. It seem to be tearing at his heartstrings, to see his fellow countrymen, who had been bequeathed, under the New Covenant, all the wealth of God's spiritual treasure house, depriving themselves of all that was theirs through the pure grace and mercy of their God. They were the first, of all mankind, to receive God's favor , and yet, throughout their history, they were the first to reject it. He struggles, with-in himself, endeavoring to get them to see, this is what God had been endeavoring to bring about through them, through-out their entire history.

The New Covenant, that God had promised them through their prophets, had been validated in Jesus blood, and was in force at the present. The inheritance was theirs to share in and to share with the whole world. He tries to get them to see that Jesus was theirs, and God's Messiah. And was the first fruit of the new creation from the dead, and had been appointed heir of all the redeemed earth, not just the land of Israel. And by faith in God's word concerning Him, they could share in it with Him, Jointly. It is in the light of this inheritance, that Paul tells other believers, "1Cor. 3:21-23, "So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God." Since believers are joint heirs and joint custodians of God's redeemed creation in Christ, then you are in charge of all conditions and circumstances you will ever encounter while on your sojourn here on earth, and will rule and reign with Him in His Kingdom. Once again God's sons and daughters are back in control of their lives and life's circumstances. Quit depriving yourself of the abundance of God's blessing in the new realm of the Spirit. You have been placed into a new corporate union with the Living God of this universe. You can believe it, it's God's Word.

Let us consider Paul's approach to the body of believers that have assembled in Corinth. Report has reached him, that though they are going on in the faith, some of them were allowing the fleshly natural man to maintain control over them. As is usually the case, the fleshly, natural, intellectual, thinking man was exerting greater influence in the body. The influence was causing disruptions, and divisions, and the Spiritual growth of the body was being hindered, and the witness going out beyond the body was impeded, and this brought disrepute to the Head of the body, The Lord Jesus Christ. Out-broken immoral conduct was taking place, and being condoned, because the unlearned and the untaught, were the most vociferous, and were controlling the thinking of the whole body, in a wrongful manner.

It seems these factions were fracturing the assemblies into separate groups, over the controversy of leadership. Does this sound familiar? Paul mentions this as one of the first signs of them being a carnal, fleshly body, and not Spiritual. There is no note of condemnation from him. He simply calls their attention to the situation that needed to be corrected. He does this by first commending them for what is good and right in their gatherings. Showing them first of all, everything they had that was positive, and available to them, if they just got their hearts and minds fixed on the right Person.

The evidenced that they were a redeemed body, was the fact that the Holy spirit was manifesting His presence in their midst.

1Cor. 1:2-10, "Paul;" "To the church of God at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified ( set apart, reckoned righteous), in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, (made rich through the abundance of all the Spiritual blessings bestowed on them in Him), in all speech and in all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall also confirm you to the end, blameless, in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Christ Jesus our Lord." "Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment."

Paul is addressing those sanctified, (set apart in Christ Jesus), from all other people of the community, because of the manner of their approach to the living God that they were maintaining in their assemblies, and in their personal lives. These are the True Saints of God, and he extends this recognition to all who in every place, and I believe, for all time; thus, these writings are relevant today. He specifically extends this recognition to all who in every place, call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. The most amazing realization that has come upon Paul, who has been a legalist all his life, is the fact that the Grace of God has been lavishly poured out on the race of sinful man. In his opinion, he recognizes himself as the chief of sinners, and to him God's grace is overwhelming. Oh; that it would be so to the present day body of professing believers.

Because of God's grace, peace has been procured for all. There is no more enmity between God and man, there should be no more enmity between man and God. There should be no more enmity between man and man. Peace has been established by God, Himself, but man in his spiritual blindness, hasn't been able to apprehend it. The Apostles never cease giving thanks to God, for His unspeakable Gift. The Lord Jesus Christ!

As a result of this grace embodied in the inheritance they have received as joint heirs of Jesus Christ, they have been made rich, or enriched in everything. This wealth was in the area of all speech and all knowledge. He is also telling them at Corinth as he had to the church of Rome. "The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. If you believe with your heart, that Jesus is Lord,(your Lord), and that God has raised Him from the dead, and you then confess with your mouth, you shall be saved." Later in His second letter to them, he encourages them to, "examine yourselves, and confirm the fact of the abiding presence of the Lord Jesus within each of them." He is a whole and complete person, who has now become their very life. It just remains for them to recognize Him by faith, as such.

This testimony was confirmed by the mighty working power of God the Holy Spirit bestowing the many gifts that were being exhibited among them. The manifest presence of God in their midst, should have been enough to convince them that God had withheld nothing, so therefore they were lacking nothing. If there was any deficiency, it wasn't in God, or in Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior, or in the power of the Holy Spirit who was ministering the Gift of Life to them. The deficiency was in themselves, for still considering themselves to be something or someone important in their own eyes. 2Cor. 10:3-7a, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. You are looking at things as they are outwardly," Ver, 12, " For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves with themselves, they are without understanding." Their importance was only in their own eyes, the important one in their midst was God in Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit, because they were the faithful ones. Mankind is always the unfaithful one for not utilizing all the authority invested in the Name of Jesus, in the Realm of the New resurrected Life of the Savior. But because of their weaknesses or ours, if we or they stand fast in the Faith of our Father, Abraham, and the Lord Jesus Christ, (it's the same faith in that it is of the same quality and it's given by God to any one to exercise in His behalf), God will confirm all blameless, in that final day. Jesus is the one who perfected faith and it behooves all to abide in it also.

God has made Himself responsible for mankind's salvation. The believers part is to stand firm in their faith in Him, Jesus Christ, and He is faithful to supply all our need, according to His riches in glory, in Christ Jesus.

As you get into depths of the content of God's message, in whatever era, or area of life, the problem is always the same. Mankind gets his attention distracted, and centered on things and circumstances, and off of God, the source and provider of Life and everything in life.

The Corinthians were taken up with who were the most important in their midst. The preoccupation with choosing up sides, who would be their leader, and who's teaching they would follow was most important to them. They had failed to see that mortal man wasn't the important one. Jesus Christ, the head, was the important one. The Truth as they had received it was to be found in Jesus Christ. The gifts and the position they held in the body wasn't important. The Giver of the Gifts, was and still is, He, who is important.

The factions, and fragmenting of the Unity of the body was contradictory to everything that they as Gentile believers had been taught and was diametrically opposed to everything they the Jewish believers had been told by their God from the very first. I'll quote just a few verses to verify this and list others for your own reference. Deut. 10:14-17, "behold to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. Yet on your fathers did the Lord set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. Circumcise then your heart and stiffen your neck no more. For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality , nor take a bribe." 2Chron. 19:5-7, "And he appointed judges in all the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city. And he said to the judges, 'Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man, but for the Lord who is with you when you render judgment. Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness, or partiality, or the taking of a bribe." Rom. 2:11 "For there is no partiality with God." Gal. 2:5-6. "But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the Gospel might remain with you. But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me); God shows no partiality,--Well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me." Acts 10:34-35-Eph. 6:9,--Col. 3:25,--1Pet. 17:8.

Satisfying the desires of the flesh, was causing them to be looked upon no differently than any of the other sects, who were practicing other forms of religion.

In all of this we learn more graphically that Christianity is not a religion of forms, ceremonies, rituals, nor is it a gathering for unduly amounts of revelry, or hilarity. Christianity is a New Life with a higher quality to it. Christianity is the Gift of the resurrected Lord of Life, sharing His Life in corporate union with the believer. In the strength of His Life, the spirit of the believer is subject to the believer. Read, 1Cor. 14:32-33. It is a life that is conducted in an atmosphere of decency and orderliness. A life where the recipient is being exercised in the Spirit, and the Spirit is producing the fruit of the Spirit in the believer, the greatest of which is Love. Because the Love of God has been shed abroad in the heart of the believer. This love is not a sweet, syrupy, sickly, kind of Love. The only kind of Love the believe is exercised in and knows is explained in 1John 3:16, "We know Love by this, that He laid down His life for the believer,(us),we ought to lay down our lives for the,"brethren." God is Love, and Love never fails, because God never fails. God is Life. A person living by faith in the strength of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, never fails, because God in Jesus Christ never failed.

Therefore John and Paul, assures all, that God's faithfulness abides in Him. He will be perfected in you, "the believer", and has made you complete in Him. On this authority all believers will stand before Him with confidence. Once again read, 1John 4:16-19. Let us consider Paul's conclusion in Rom. 8:1-2, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the Law of sin and death." Also Gal. 5:1, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."

Having been offered and given a complete Savior, with a complete salvation, (a full and complete new life), in Himself, why is it that mankind, believing or unbelieving, seemed to be obsessed with the idea that something is lacking, and he has to do something to help Jesus complete the work? Doesn't the fault lie with our faith and the lack of knowledge in what the Word of God has told us is ours in Christ Jesus? In whom is the faith that is being testified to, really centered, in Him or our own abilities and accomplishments? Hear the man cry out as recorded in the gospel narrative. "Oh, Lord I believe; help Thou, my unbelief!"

Why is it that since the dark ages, we have heard men crying out to God; "Oh, God come; and Oh God, give me more, or God's going to do something great, and again, Expect great things". How much greater or bigger, 'things', can anyone expect, than the work of the Salvation of a lost, hopeless, helpless, person that would otherwise go to the grave, a complete failure in this life and in the one to come?

The Holy Spirit, the One Who bestows life, has been in the world for the Jew since the day of Pentecost. For the Gentile, He has been in the world since God at the hands of Peter, gave the gift of the Spirit to the household of Corneilius the Roman, General. For the body of believers, He has been abiding in their midst, since those two events took place that many years ago, but He hasn't been recognized as He should be, for Who He is, and the work He has been performing in our inner-most being, faithfully.

The report was accepted and confirmed by the elders at Jerusalem. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit have been in the world and in the true body of believers, made up of all extraction's of people ever since. The trouble is mankind with all the distractions, speculations, and conjectures brought in by the unbelievers, intellectuals, and higher critics, has contributed to the spirit of confusion that pervades the assemblies. A fractured body has resulted.

Mankind in his misguided wisdom, has always been taken up with his,"DOING", God has always tried to get him to concentrate on his,"BEING". God has always said, "Be what I have made you", and then,"DO AS I TEACH". Mankind has always said, "If I just do the best I can, then God ought to be convinced that my intentions are right." The trouble is, he has never been willing to admit it, he always falls short of his goal or good intentions. If by faith he only becomes what God says He has made him in Jesus Christ, then his, "Being", and his, "Doing", will be Spirit produced, and acceptable to God.

In the letter to the Church at Ephesus, where the spirit of division and contention, was becoming pervasive, because of the opposition to the Gospel, Paul encourages them with his letter. Eph. 1:2-8, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every Spiritual blessing in the heavenlies, in Christ Jesus, just as He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In Love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, to Himself, according to the kind intentions of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His Grace, which He lavished on us."

There is no writing in all the world that is so enlightening, in revealing to the Church, that every Spiritual Blessing, in the heavenly treasure house that are at God's disposal, have been poured out on the believer. All of it has come to us in Christ Jesus. I say again, nothing is missing, or lacking, and it was not a last minute thought with God. It was all predetermined, and carried out according to His, kind intentions. All originated with God, before time began, long ages past, but fulfilled in these last day's.

The foundation and the foundation corner stone, has already been laid. The Church, the Body, the Building has been in construction all of these years, since Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is always present carrying out His assignment of completing and perfecting the work necessary to present to Him, a Temple without spot or blemish. Without cracks in the facade. Eph. 4:1-7, "I, Therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a mann-er worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace is given according to the measure of Christ's Gift." (or--the Gift of Christ).

Oh, how far we have strayed since, man, has been exalted to the head of the church and the True Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, has been relegated to a secondary position. His name is used a great deal, but where is His real presence? Only in a very small way is His fullness being realized, and true worship, in Spirit and in Truth being expressed. With all the divisions and all the dissected doctrines directing man's attention away from Him and His Person, there is no denying that the church in the world today is not the one Paul, speaks of or describes in the preceding Scriptures. It's image today is one led by man, a fleshly, carnal man, intellectually driven, philosophically taught the doctrines of this, so-called new age.
May-be, just maybe, Jesus Christ has only been believed in, in a superficial way, just intellectually, and not in actuality of His fullness, but only in an Abstract manner. Let us be reminded, "from the Heart man believes, resulting in righteousness." In all the writings of the Prophets and the Apostles, the emphasis is placed upon the distinction between the natural, intellectual, wisdom and knowledge of this world, and the Spiritual wisdom and knowledge that comes at the hands of the Holy Spirit,who is endeavoring to manifest the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Church. This Spiritual Wisdom and knowledge is of a Higher Source. It is Heavenly.

Just listen to what is being proclaimed around us today. The extolling of mankind's accomplishments for God. And Listen to all the grandiose plans and schemes that mankind devises, all in the name of God, and serving God.

Paul's prayers as recorded in his letters to the churches, is in stark contrast, for in the Spirit, the heart and mind of God are always expressed. They always are for all believers to be brought to a Spiritual awakening, and to be filled with all the Spiritual Wisdom and Knowledge, that are embodied in Jesus Christ. This is what Jesus, Himself, prayed for in our behalf as it is recorded in the 17th, Chap. of Johns Gospel.

The Apostle Peter expresses the same truth in a similar way. Peter, who had experienced being chosen by Jesus to be one of His disciples,had responded obediently to the call to follow and learn of Him. He had learned firsthand the marvels of this Mysterious Person,who had attracted so much attention with His display of knowledge, and wisdom and power,(authority to be in control of every situation). A person who had displayed such masterful control of His own being, as well as every situation He had led them through so triumphantly up until and through the Crucifixion. Peter had experienced the difficulty in reconciling the customs of the Jewish way of life he had been raised under, with the transitional changes necessary to reconcile the New Way of Grace under which he had now been called to live. He had to learn that the new way of grace by faith, was no different than the way God had shown his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and David. He knew the humility of having denied Jesus the night before His death. He had the confrontation with Him after the resurrection, and was not able to rise to the height of his previous commitment, when he declared he would follow Him to the ends of the earth. He realized now he couldn't rise to the height of the love, as was being expressed by Jesus, and was grieved in heart because of a lack of it. Not until after the coming of the Holy Spirit to share the Life of the Lord with-in Him, did he come to know that now he possessed the Life of which Jesus spoke, as recorded in John 17:3, "And this is eternal life, that they might know Thee, the only True God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent."
2Peter, 1:1-8, "Simon Peter, a bond servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of our Lord; seeing that His divine power,(power of Deity), has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the Nature of Deity, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in you knowledge, self control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, Christian Love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the True Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Can you see it? Here once again is an expression of the True Character of a True Man , one who is created in Christ Jesus, unto good works,(0r a godly life). One that exemplifies the Life of the Lord Jesus. Here-in lies the true meaning of the Gift of Eternal Life. Eternal Life; begins the moment you, Truly, believe and continues throught eternity.

The realization of the fact , that as a recipient and a joint heir with Jesus Christ of the inheritance bequeathed by God to the people Israel under the covenant promise, is most specifically spoken through Jeremiah 31: 31, and then confirmed by the writer of the book of Hebrews, Chaps. 8:1-10:23: In the inheritance under the New Covenant, the True Believer is sharing in everything that pertains to Life and Godliness. All of which he reconfirms, comes from entering into fellowship, (joint participation) in Life with the Lord Jesus Christ and there-by coming to a True knowledge of what it is to share in the, Nature of Deity). We the believer, don't own or posses it as we would a "Trinket", but in that we by faith are possessed, (owned, purchased by a New Owner, ) He in turn posses us, and we posses His nature, and abide in Him, for the full and completeness, of this knowledge.(Spiritual Knowledge). In the inheritance under the New Covenant, the believer, Jew or Gentile, is sharing in everything that pertains to life and godliness. All of which he reconfirms, comes from entering into life with Jesus, and there-by coming to know experientially what it is to share in the Nature of Deity, in joint participation, (fellowship), with Jesus Christ. When God, calls, and chooses anyone by His grace, glory and excellence, He grants to them, joint participation and Spiritual union with Himself. 1Cor. 6:17 "But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him." Ver. 19-20, "Or do you not know that your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own ? You are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." Also refresh your thinking by reading Romans once again, Chapters 3: 19-8:39.

All the power of God, resulting in Salvation, resides in the Gospel, and is for anyone and everyone who believes. Therefore God grants to the believer in Jesus Christ, the Spiritual Wisdom and Knowledge that leads to life and godliness. It only remains for all who profess to believe, to receive Him in all of His fullness. Then to abide in Him, that you might increase in the True Knowledge of Him. Ever learning to know Him better as truly a personal Savior. Is this not the content of the statement of Jesus Himself? John 8:31-32, "Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My Word, then you are truly disciples of mine; and you shall know the Truth and the truth shall make you free."

Jesus Christ, the living Word, of God, is the subject and the substance of the entire Bible. It is in Him that the, "Mystical Union ", the hope of glory, and the completeness of God's purpose in erecting a Temple here on earth, in which to dwell, takes place. He is His own messenger as well as, the message personified. He is the, THE SUBJECT OF THE MESSAGE, as well as the SUBSTANCE. And He is the True messenger of the message. Rom. 15:8, "He the Son, Christ Jesus has become a servant on behalf of the truth of God, to confirm the promises given to the fathers and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His Mercy."

There will be a Millennial temple, in which Jesus will be enthroned as He resides and rules over the nations of this world from Jerusalem. However, His Spirit will reign eternally in the body of believers, Jews and Gentiles, chosen out of this age, known as His called out ones, His assembly, the Church, John 14:23-27, "Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will Love him, and We will come to him, and make our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My Word; and the Word which you heard is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me. These things I have spoken to you, while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."

God's , so great salvation and the hope of eternal life, is for all to receive and enjoy, and benefit by here and now. God has blessed all believers with all the Spiritual Blessings in the heavenlies. (the heavenly realm where He resides). They are all blessings that originate in the heavenly realm of the Spirit, and brought here to earth to every believer. They are bestowed on mankind here on earth the moment he / she, believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He who was dead, has risen, and has been beseeching all people everywhere to believe in Him and receive the gift of eternal life. Col. 1:19-20, "For it was the Father's good pleasure for all fullness to dwell in him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven." 2Cor.. 5:19b-and 20b, "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." "We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."

Israel learned at certain intervals to realize and recognize that all the praise, glory and exalting of their God was really the smallest thing they could do. At the same time it was the greatest thing that they could do, for that was their limitation, they could do nothing more than that. At intervals the realization crept through, that everything they were and everything they had, even their own identity, was at the hands of a benevolent God. Just So, the Apostles gained the realization, but in a more pronounced way, for by faith they gained a personal awareness, as Paul expressed his awareness. 1Cor. 15:10, "By the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God with me."

He is worthy of all the praise, thankfulness, and gratitude that we can possibly bestow on Him. Salvation, and the Blessings of an abundant life is all of Him and we are the recipients of His Love in Jesus Christ. John 10:10, "The thief, (Satan, the evil one) comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that you might have life, and might have it ABUNDANTLY. "

When Jesus was here and taught, He repeatedly expressed that the Kingdom of Heaven was right in their midst, because He the King of Heaven was right in their midst. Therefore, all the blessings of the Heavenly, Spiritual Realm were in Him and displayed before their very eyes, in Living Color.

After ascending to heaven, He and the Father, in the Person of the Holy Spirit returned to earth with all these blessings, which were and are bestowed on every believer who believes in Him, and receives Him. He is the giver of all good gifts, for us to enjoy. All of it was in accordance with His eternal purpose, where-in all believers were chosen long ages past, before it ever took place here on earth, but was manifest , shown to all who would use their eyes to see, two thousand years ago. The wonderful part for us is, That it has PRESENT CONTINUING, RESULTS for Now and Eternity.

This constitutes a revelation of His faithfulness, and the absolute assurance that He is not slack as men count slackness. He made the complete mystery known at the proper time, according to His purpose.

The potential of all that God offers mankind, lies in the exercise of ones Faith. Faith makes all of it possible to us experimentally, and the Holy Spirit makes it all Possible, as a living experiential, reality.

Their need in their day was the same as our need in our day, and God is the supplier of all our need. Their need was to learn Christ, and He would make the Father known. Our need is the same. To know God the source of all life, is to know life that doesn't come from material or physical sustenance,(from bread alone), but Life that comes from the Word of God.

Abiding in this, His Word, the probable becomes the actual, and the true believer finds his /her, self back in control of their person and circumstances, which one encounters every moment of every day as we live out our daily lives.

In this place of abiding, the Holy Spirit is now free to produce the His Fruit for the believer to partake of. Gal. 5:22, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such things there is no Law."

Why is mankind so deceived into accepting less then the full-ness of the life of God in Jesus Christ? It need not be so. Let your faith become strong, by allowing Him to become your whole life.

The Apostle Paul as a True Believing Jew, now realizing and accepting one of the functions, they as a people set apart, Holy unto the Lord, were to fulfill, which was to take the Word of God to the whole world. He accuses the un-believing Jew of His day, of blaspheming the name of their God among the Gentile world. This accusation was levied at them because the lives they were living didn't measure up to the profession they were making of having the God of Abraham as their God. It is evident from his approach to them that he wants to make them aware as well as the rest of the world, that their God had never tolerated a double standard from them. Oh how this condition needs to be called to our attention, both in the realm of the professing church, and then from the highest echelons of our American government. Consider the reports of the fraud and deception in some of the major denominations in the United States, in the last few years. And then consider the propagation of the dogma, that it's all right to have a double standard in the lives of the governmental officials, as well as the private citizen. Who in this world can trust a hypocrite? Is it conceivable to think that it's all right to pose as one kind of a person in public, in whatever capacity, and then have a different life in private. PREPOSTEROUS!

The Life of God in Jesus Christ that He offers to the world is a Holy Life, because He is Holy. Rational, reasonable, logical. Reasonable thought tells you that two different lives, one of debauchery, and one of righteousness, are not compatible, in the Temple of God.

"You Shall Be Holy for I Am Holy", say's our God and Savior.

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